Autonomy during childbirth empowers parents to make informed, confident choices from pregnancy to childbirth. It emphasizes the right to govern one’s body and decisions while feeling supported and respected. Exercising this autonomy fully requires being well-informed.
This article shares insights from medical professionals, midwives, and individuals who have experienced autonomous birth firsthand. Through expert guidance and personal stories, we aim to equip future parents with the tools to ask the right questions, find reliable resources, and create a birth plan aligned with their values.
Expert Insights on Supporting Autonomy
Autonomy in childbirth refers to the right of the birthing person to make informed decisions about their body and birthing experience, fully understanding their options, and feeling empowered throughout the process.
Midwife Peggy Ducroz explains, “Autonomy in childbirth means that the person giving birth is at their full potential in terms of choices, understands the issues, feels safe, and feels like an actor in what is happening.” She emphasizes preparation and open communication as key.
Caroline Arbour, a perineal physiotherapist, emphasizes the importance of informed decision-making. “Autonomy in childbirth, above all, means being and remaining in full control of one’s body,” she explains. She believes healthcare professionals must support and inform parents with their expertise, not impose themselves, but rather accompany them to ensure that parents feel confident and respected.
Nurse Emmanuel André reinforces the importance of recognizing the natural ability of the pregnant person to make decisions. “The pregnant person is fully capable of making the decisions that seem best for themselves and their baby, and this freedom of choice and decision-making power must never be taken away from them, regardless of the context,” he asserts.
For parents who choose home births, like Sabrina Sahed, autonomy is about comfort and self-determination. “It was clear from the start that I wanted to give birth at home,” she shared. “For my boyfriend, supporting me in my choices was his priority.”
She highlights the importance of having a supportive team and being prepared for the unexpected. “We discussed the conditions that made a home birth realistic for us, and the support of midwives was our first choice. That’s why I was so happy to have a place in a birthing center,” Sabrina continued.
Preparation and Challenges
Both experts and parents stress the importance of preparation. Peggy suggests resources on natural childbirth, Caroline recommends community groups and doulas, and Emmanuel emphasizes knowing one’s rights and body.
Navigating differences between medical advice and parents’ wishes can be challenging. “From a clinical point of view, I refer to our field of practice, current recommendations, and good practices,” says Peggy. In other words, when parents ask questions about possibilities and choices, Peggy refers to the best knowledge, legal limits, and various recommendations from medical associations or her own mandate in order to offer the best choices to families.
Emmanuel emphasizes the importance of minimizing fear-based influences: “I strive to communicate these risks neutrally and objectively so that parents do not feel biased in my recommendations.” Caroline adds that healthcare professionals must communicate risks clearly while respecting parents’ autonomy. In other words, it is up to parents to decide which risks are acceptable to them by having the right information to assess these risks.
The impact of being fully independent during childbirth can be profound. Sabrina shares, “After giving birth, I felt so good and confident, with much less stress and fatigue, which allowed me to be even more present for my baby.”
Informed decision-making empowers parents to approach birth with confidence and control. Understanding options, seeking support, and preparing thoughtfully create a positive, fulfilling experience for families.
